The best books of 2023

This list is part of the best books of 2023.

Join 1,707 readers and share your 3 favorite reads of the year.

My favorite read in 2023

Book cover of The Lost Apothecary

Alison Ragsdale Why did I love this book?

This book kept me engaged when I was stressed and feeling guilty for reading anything other than my own work in progress. It gifted me with an escape each night, which was therapeutic.

The seamless transition between eighteenth-century London and the present day was masterful, and I was equally invested in both casts of characters and storylines.

I particularly loved the mysteriously dark nature of the original apothecary shop, and the final twist that brought the two tales together was cleverly done.

By Sarah Penner,

Why should I read it?

8 authors picked The Lost Apothecary as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Named Most Anticipated of 2021 by Newsweek, Good Housekeeping, Hello! magazine, Oprah.com, Bustle, Popsugar, Betches, Sweet July, and GoodReads!

March 2021 Indie Next Pick and #1 LibraryReads Pick

“A bold, edgy, accomplished debut!” —Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Alice Network

A forgotten history. A secret network of women. A legacy of poison and revenge. Welcome to The Lost Apothecary…

Hidden in the depths of eighteenth-century London, a secret apothecary shop caters to an unusual kind of clientele. Women across the city whisper of a mysterious figure named Nella who sells well-disguised…


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My 2nd favorite read in 2023

Book cover of Night of Miracles

Alison Ragsdale Why did I love this book?

I am a huge fan of Ms. Berg’s books, and this one was as charming as the others.

The cast of characters was perfectly put together, each one as complex and real as the next. Lucille just broke my heart with her gentle nature and the way she embraced the people around her who needed a touch of kindness or a slice of cake to ease their pain.

This is a life-affirming story that left me with a renewed sense of the good that exists in people if you take the time to look for it.

By Elizabeth Berg,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Night of Miracles as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The feel-good book of the year: a delightful novel of friendship, community, and the way small acts of kindness can change your life, by the bestselling author of The Story of Arthur Truluv
 
Lucille Howard is getting on in years, but she stays busy. Thanks to the inspiration of her dearly departed friend Arthur Truluv, she has begun to teach baking classes, sharing the secrets to her delicious classic Southern yellow cake, the perfect pinwheel cookies, and other sweet essentials. Her classes have become so popular that she’s hired Iris, a new resident of Mason, Missouri, as an assistant. Iris…


My 3rd favorite read in 2023

Book cover of Like Family

Alison Ragsdale Why did I love this book?

Full disclosure, this was the second time I’ve read this book, which is not something I often do.

I was in Italy when I read it, which felt entirely appropriate, and re-immersing myself in this relatable family unit that Giordano created was like meditating. The characters were luminescent, especially Signora A, the nanny who soon becomes indispensable and whose gentle influence changes the dynamic of the family she works for.

It is beautifully written and a poignant look at what influences our choice of who we consider family. It appears to be a simple tale at first, but it is intricately layered with emotion and realism. My only criticism is that it was over too soon.

By Paolo Giordano,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Like Family as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

“From aide to nanny and housekeeper . . . Paolo Giordano examines this unusual relationship in the context of one household of three. . . . Spare, elegant.”–The New York Times
 
“Like Family. . . demands to be savored. . . Giordano's emphasis on how we choose to live and love offers subtle hope that our decisions actually matter.”—NPR.org

From the author of the international bestseller The Solitude of Prime Numbers, an exquisite portrait of marriage, adulthood, and the meaning of family
 
Paolo Giordano’s prizewinning debut novel, The Solitude of Prime Numbers, catapulted the young Italian author into the literary…


Don‘t forget about my book 😀

The Child Between Us

By Alison Ragsdale,

Book cover of The Child Between Us

What is my book about?

Set on Scotland’s stunning Isle of Lewis, this is the heart-wrenching tale of twins Cassie and Isla, the shocking choice that tears them apart, and the events that bring them back to one another in the most unexpected way.

It explores the unbreakable bond of sisterhood, impossible choices, and what it really means to be a mother.

Readers who love Kate Hewitt, Jodi Picoult, and Diane Chamberlain will be utterly gripped.

Book cover of The Lost Apothecary
Book cover of Night of Miracles
Book cover of Like Family

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